Fútbol!!!!

Hello readers! This is a special day for you! Two blogs- two days... don't expect it all the time!

This blog as most of you probably know from the title (unless you know no Spanish at all) is going to be about the soccer game I went to on Sunday night!

Valencia versus Sporting (some smallish town in the north of Spain) 9:00 pm

Just an FYI... Valencia was favored to win this game because they are currently ranked as number 10 of the 20 teams in the premier league and Sporting is ranked as 18.

I arrived at the stadium at about 8:20 amidst the swarms of fans ready for the game. I found my friends who I arranged to meet up with and then we headed inside! Our tickets only cost 20 euro (about $30) so we obviously didn't have the closest seats. After we found our entrance gate which was basically right next to us (except we walked the wrong way and thus ended up walking around half the stadium) we walked up the winding path to basically the top of the stadium and found our seats.

After watching a little bit of warming up, the marching band (not great marchers), and an advertisement for the rodeo coming to Valencia the game got underway. I really can't give a play by play of the entire match but I have to say that the atmosphere of the stadium throughout the entire match was amazing! One section was devoted Sporting fans and the rest Valencia fans.

The first team to score was Sporting. The Valencia defense let a Sporting forward break away so it was basically one on one with the goalie. The next two goals were Valencia's. After that the game started getting rough three yellow and one red card later (all against Sporting) Valencia answered Sporting's goal with one of there own making it a tie game to end the half. Early in the second half Valencia scores another goal. At this point with a one person and one point advantage Valencia seems content to simply control the ball (which they had been doing most of the game) and run out the clock while looking for any great shot opportunities. Sporting was not to be counted out though. There defense really stepped up and did not allow many Valencia shots on goals. Eventually 3 or maybe 4 yellow cards later (all again Valencia this time) Sporting again get a lucky break on a corner kick to tie the game with like 4 minutes left! The last 4 minutes of soccer were intense on both sides but in the end the clock ran out before either team scored again. Final score 2-2

I am so glad I got to go to this game! Soccer is extremely popular and highly integrated into the Spanish culture! I can't wait to go to another game!

Hasta Luego!